Milan Aperitivo: A Guide to the Italian Evening Ritual

Aperitivo culture is an integral part of Milan. It’s a common evening ritual in many parts of Italy, where people enjoy creative cocktails or a nice glass of wine before dinner. It’s a great way to slow down after a day spent at Milan’s often frenetic pace.

When adding an aperitivo experience to your Milan food tour, you want to consider timing and tradition, before choosing a spot that best suits your taste.

What is Aperitivo? Understanding Milan’s Pre-Dinner Tradition

Historically, Milan’s aperitivo culture started as a way to stimulate the appetite before dinner. In more modern times it evolved to become a way for busy Milanese people to shift gears from Milan’s fast-paced energy and settle into a delicious casual meal.

Most Milanese will go out for aperitivo between 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Typically an hour or so before their planned dinner reservation.

The aperitivo experience typically starts with ordering a drink such as wine, beer, or an iconic cocktail like a Negroni Sbagliato or Campari Spritz. Many times the bar or restaurant also offers an array of complimentary or low-cost appetizers.

This might be a selection of in-season olives, chips, and nuts. A fine dining restaurant might even offer tapas-like small plates like bruschetta, pasta, or a cheese board.

Top Aperitivo Spots in Milan

Milan is overloaded with great bars and restaurant lounges offering impeccable aperitivo experiences. I think the following offer memorable experiences and accessibility.

Terrazza Duomo 21

Photo credit: Terrazza Duomo 21

Terrazza Duomo 21 offers a luxurious aperitivo experience with breathtaking views of Milan’s iconic Piazza del Duomo and Duomo Milano. It’s perched above the vibrant square, making it a great place for a pre-dinner cocktail while taking in the city’s historic charm.​

​The lounge area of Terrazza Duomo 21 has an upscale, trendy vibe with sleek décor and large glass windows that act like a frame for the piazza. However, I think the place to be in fair weather is the outdoor terrace.

Terrazza Duomo 21’s aperitivo selection includes signature cocktails, like the classic Aperol Spritz and Negroni. They also have special in-house cocktails that change with the whims of their mixologists and an extensive wine list.

The aperitivo spread at Terrazza Duomo 21 includes a selection of small plates with Italian cheeses, charcuterie, and bruschetta. All are made with locally sourced, in-season ingredients that whet the appetite while giving you a true taste of Milan.

Terrazza Duomo 21 (€€€) – P.za del Duomo, 21, 20122 Milano MI, Italy.

N’Ombra de Vin

Photo credit: N’Ombra de Vin

You’ll find N’Ombra de Vin in Milan’s Brera district near the San Marco Basilica, where they offer an exceptional aperitivo experience in a historic setting. The wine bar is housed in the former refectory of an order of Augustinian friars and includes one of the city’s most impressive wine lists.

N’Ombra de Vin’s interior has vaulted ceilings and shelves stocked with fine wines, creating a vibe of old-world sophistication. It attracts a mix of wine enthusiasts, oenophiles, and groups of people looking for a wine-centric deep dive aperitivo experience.

The extensive wine list at N’Ombra de Vin is second to none. Including rare French imports and carefully curated Italian labels. They also offer classic cocktails like the Negroni and Aperol Spritz as well as wine spritzers made from their in-house vintages.

The aperitivo spread at N’Ombra de Vin centers around a curated selection of Italian cheeses, charcuterie, and small plates. All of these pair thoughtfully with their most popular wines, spritzers, and cocktails.

N’Ombra de Vin (€€€) – Via S. Marco, 2, 20121 Milano MI, Italy.

Fonderie Milanesi

Photo credit: Fonderie Milanesi

Fonderie Milanesi is one of Milan’s hidden gems offering an industrial chic aperitivo experience to start your evening out. It’s located in a former foundry near Bocconi University.

The interior décor is rife with industrial elements that speak to its past as a foundry, while still maintaining a relaxed, casual vibe. I prefer to order my drink inside, where I can take in the décor, and then settle down in the spacious outdoor courtyard where I can watch the mixed crowd of students, artists, and locals.

The aperitivo drink selection at Fonderie Milanesi features a well-crafted selection of cocktails. It includes classics like the Negroni and Aperol Spritz, as well as a rotating menu of creative, seasonal drinks. They also have an eclectic wine list with Italian and international vintages.

Fonderie Milanesi’s aperitivo spread is nothing short of generous and is included with the price of a drink. So much so that you risk over-indulging in their selection of charcuterie boards, cheeses, bruschetta, pasta salads, and small plates made with seasonal ingredients.

Fonderie Milanesi (€) – Via Giovenale, 7, 20136 Milano MI, Italy.

Popular Aperitivo Drinks and Foods to Try

The Milanese aperitivo experience is typically a mix of classic Italian small plates, local seasonal ingredients, and drinks designed to set the stage for a delightful meal.

Aperitivo Beverages

Milan’s aperitivo culture has evolved to include a full spectrum of drinks beyond the classic Aperol spritz and negroni to cater to the diverse tastes of locals and tourists.

Aperol spritz is an iconic Italian cocktail that’s popular in Milan and Lombardy. The Prosecco gives it a bright, slightly bitter flavor with hints of orange, herbs, and vanilla. Club soda provides a sparkling, bubbly component, and then it’s garnished with lime or seasonal citrus.

Negroni is a classic Italian cocktail with a robust flavor that perfectly matches the vibe of Milan’s nightlife. In Milanese aperitivo culture, it’s typically made from equal parts of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth.

Campari soda is an easily accessible aperitivo beverage that’s simple yet elegant. The Campari gives it a bright red, bittersweet flavor with notes of herbs, spices, and fruit. Then it’s lit and fizzed with bubbly soda water.

Wine and wine spritzers made from Italian wines and Prosecco from crisp whites or stylish glasses of robust red wine can also be a part of the Milanese aperitivo experience. They’re more common at wine bars and fine dining restaurants.

Signature cocktails carefully crafted by expert mixologists are increasingly popular in Milan’s aperitivo culture. These tend to be unique drinks that blend Italian liqueurs with seasonal ingredients and creative garnishes.

Non-alcoholic beverages in Milan are much more than the “Kiddie Cooler” drinks you often find in the US. Instead, they’re sophisticated “mocktails” crafted by mixologists using Italian sodas, or juices to offer alcohol-averse people the opportunity to enjoy an elevated aperitivo experience.

Aperitivo Spreads

A lot of bars, wine bars, and restaurant lounges also offer some type of food “spread” to go with their beverage selection. It might be a curated selection of boards, a buffet, or even a small plates tapas-style experience.

Charcuterie boards usually include a selection of cured meats like prosciutto, salami, and mortadella.

Cheese boards often feature classic Italian cheeses such as Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino, or creamy Gorgonzola.

Small bite plates tend to feature things like bruschetta, marinated olives, focaccia, mini panini, and arancini fried rice balls.

Vegetable dishes are increasingly popular in summertime aperitivo spreads. They often feature grilled or marinated seasonal vegetables such as zucchini, eggplant, and artichokes or pinzimonio vegetables with olive oil dip.

Tips for Enjoying Aperitivo Like a Local:

Timing is important if you want to enjoy an authentic Milanese aperitivo experience. This means planning to be at your chosen aperitivo spot by 6:00 PM or at least one hour before your dinner reservations. This will give you time to enjoy the beverage and the aperitivo spread in a way that stimulates your appetite, without spoiling it.

Ideally, you want to choose a bar, wine bar, or cocktail lounge that’s a stone’s throw from your dinner reservation. Many restaurants even have their own bar or lounge area to host aperitivo experiences. Locals often flock to these establishments for a seamless aperitivo and dinner experience.

Whatever place you choose, be adventurous with your drink and spread choices. Try that Negroni, even if you’d normally have a beer. Try that gorgonzola cheese or charcuterie board to really get an authentic taste of Milan’s aperitivo culture.

Sources:

Eating Europe. (n.d.). Milan. Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://www.eatingeurope.com/milan/

Terrazza Duomo 21. (n.d.). Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://www.terrazzaduomo21.it/

Nombradevin. (n.d.). Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://www.nombradevin.it/

Fonderie Milanesi. (n.d.). Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://www.fonderiemilanesi.it/